A Hundred And Twenty Pound

Andrew Russe

A tale of keeping your head above the water, or not…

Recorded Jan-Feb 2011.

I wrote it many years ago, never thought I’d ever do anything with it.

I intended to record this with just an acoustic and my new EDB (electric upright bass), but I couldn’t quite keep the interest up with it like that. So I added a full band and ended up with this.

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A Hundred and Twenty Pound - A A J Russe

Sewn into the lining of an overcoat I found
There was the princely sum
Of a hundred and twenty pound
Beside this welcome windfall there came a crumpled note -
Bear with me stranger
And I promise my overcoat

I watched the burning candle from seven through to eight
I tried to call the office
But it was way too late
I listened for the rolling of thunder in the hills
The tell-tale flash of lightning
But everything was still

And you can buy your way out
If you’ve got the money you came in with
Yeah you can buy your way out
If you’ve got the money you came in with

Where is the money that I gave you?
Your inheritance?
You spend it all on contracts
With people who make no sense
Gaze deep into the water
Underneath the arch
That’s where you saw the body
And now you understand in part

You won’t forget easily
The pale and bloated face of he who saved you
You won’t forget easily
The contents of the crumpled note he left you
‘Cause where you’re going he has been
He’s written back to say he’s seen the queen
Of despair

You noticed how emphatically
He pointed out the bitch does not care

She will whisper in your ear
Slip into the water dear
Then the sods can keep their overdraft
Your wife and kids are catered for
They’re better off with you no more
Slip into the water dear with me
We’ll go swimming
It’s not cold
With me you never will grow old
Sleep with me
We’ll have some fun

And you read how emphatically
He warns you how despair does lie to one
And how her tale of giving up
Can almost sound as sweet as having won

Money in and money out
Management buy-out
Or should I wait for the earn-out?
Lord my hands are tied

Protect the mortgages
Keep up endowment policies
My pensions will be no use to me
If I decide to die

Round and round no money goes
Round and round and I don’t know
Round and round and so it goes
Round and round and round and round and round

And you can buy your way out
If you’ve got the money you came in with

I have it here
A hundred and twenty pound

Copyright (c) 1994 A A J Russe. All Rights Reserved.